4-H, FFA hit the ring in free show Saturday

The finest examples of beef cattle, hogs and breeding ewes in Newton County go head to head on Saturday, Feb. 11, as 4-H’ers and FFA members compete at the Newton Classic Livestock Show.

The free show is open to the public, and begins at 10 a.m. at the Newton High livestock barn, located behind the new brick building.

Children and adults alike will enjoy watching students from second to 12th grade as they exhibit heifers, steers, hogs and lambs in preparation for the state show in Perry.

Students competing are members of either 4-H or FFA and represent Heard-Mixon Elementary School, Mansfield Elementary School, Indian Creek Middle School, Alcovy High School, Eastside High School, Newton High School and Jasper County High School.

Animals exhibited were purchased as early as last summer, and students have worked with their families and advisors to raise and train each animal to look its best.

Each student may compete in three categories.

Throughout the project, students keep detailed records of feed, training, veterinary care and shows to present in a record book competition.

In showmanship competition, students compete against other beef cattle, hog or breeding ewe competitors to showcase their best skills.

The way the student interacts with and controls the animal, as well as how well the student prepared the animal, is judged. Winners earn belt buckles sponsored by Newton County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer’s Committee.

Finally, the individual animals compete in categories of heifers, steers, swine and breeding ewes for weight class honors in order to determine the overall grand champion in each category.

Throughout the show, concessions will be provided by the Newton-Eastside FFA Alumni Association for purchase.

Whether it will be your first livestock show or your hundredth, I invite you to come out and show support for our local students as they prepare for the final show of the season in Perry.

The Newton Classic Livestock Show would especially like to thank our generous top sponsors: The Piedmont Cattlemen’s Association, Newton County Farm Bureau, Wildflower Farm, the Jasper County FFA Alumni Association and the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center.